Do you HAVE to bath GPs?

[LingDiLong]

I keep reading about people bathing them. Is that necessary even for short haired varieties? Mine are girls and have short hair which seems clean and shiny. Their tummes are all fluffy and clean too. I can't imagine they'd be impressed with a bath...they're not massively keen on being held yet!

No. If they look good to you they are fine :)

On active conversations - I clicking on this wondering why you'd be bathing your Grandparents...!

We occasionally bathed my old guineas - and my rabbit. We now have to bath my cat - British short hair so fluffy as hell - as he gets upset stomachs every few months....my arms are so scarred!

You can combine a bath with a Gorgeous Guinea treatment shampoo.
Most GP people advice treating mites as they appear- some GPs never have problems. Most GPs are host to a mite population that show no symptoms.
If they are ill or stressed they can flare up.

If you have stinky boars like mine the answer is "Yes" you have to wash them.
They need a GreaseSpot de-clagg from time to time (not something you need to worry about with sows)

And my little fluffy boar runs through a puddle of his brothers fresh wee (GP1 marks his territory with a puddle). So he niffs a bit sometimes !

I have wondered this too lingdelong. My girls seem very clean.

Would it help with dander maybe? We have all developed an allergic reaction to ours so they don't get much handling :( I have to double dose with clarityn before I can clean them out.

I tuned into this thread because I thought you were talking about elderly grandparents.

I never bathed my GPs, although I showered my Nanna once.

My guinea pig on the other hand, was au naturel and eschewed bath time.

my two boars were bathed at the rescue where they boarded for our holiday....they smell soooo lovely :)

I only do my boys when I have too.

Big Pig gets a clogged up grease spot. He is not impressed with bathes. I get filthy looks for days!

Little Pig gets a bath when Big Pig does coz they have to be treated equally . Little Pig adores water! He will run up and down popcorning in the bath.

at bathing Grandparents. I didn't think about this turning up on Active Convos!! I think my grandparents would be even less impressed with me bathing them than my guinea pigs...

Thanks for the replies. I shall leave them be as they seem healthy, clean and happy as they are.

I have long haired and use gorgeous guinea products (lush for gp;) )

I bath mine monthly and groom weekly

They love it

Bathed two today and put them in sun to dry

I used to do mine every other month (I am piggy-less these days). As the shower was over the bath I used to bring them into the shower with me and give them a wash with Gorgeous Guinea shampoo after I did my hair (with normal shampoo) .

You can't beat a clean piggy wrapped up in a towel snuggled on your lap.